Impact of alcohol abuse and stress on vaginal microbiota in women with sexually transmitted infections: a microbiological and behavioral study

Aim - to assess the impact of alcohol consumption and stress on the vaginal microbiota in women with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Materials and methods. The study involved 60 women with diagnosed STIs and alcohol dependence, divided into three groups according to stress level (high, medium, low), along with a control group of 30 healthy women. Upon first mention, terms were spelled out (for example, sexually transmitted infections (STIs)), and thereafter only abbreviations were used. Vaginal swabs were cultured on differential diagnostic media to detect bacteria and fungi. Using standard microbiological methods, quantitative parameters of beneficial lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus spp. and pathogenic microorganisms, in particular Staphylococcus aureus, Candida spp. fungi, and various enterobacteria, were determined. Data were statistically processed using Microsoft Excel. Results showed that women with high stress levels and intensive alcohol consumption exhibited a significant increase in pathogenic bacteria and fungi accompanied by a notable depletion of protective lactobacilli. The reduction in Lactobacillus spp. count correlated with an increased susceptibility to bacterial vaginosis and other infections. With a reduction in stress levels, dysbiosis indicators decreased, although they still differed from the healthy state. Conclusions. The obtained data indicate the combined negative impact of alcohol and stress on the vaginal microbiota, highlighting the need to develop targeted measures aimed at preventing and correcting dysbiosis. A comprehensive approach is proposed, including stress management, reduction in alcohol consumption, and the use of probiotics to restore a normal microbiota. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the institution mentioned in the work. Informed consent was obtained from the patients for conducting the study. The authors declare no conflict of interest.